Twenty of Ireland’s new leading lights in the fields of sport, fashion, science, social enterprise and business are in the driving seat to become Nissan Generation Next ambassadors.
Nissan put the call out for ambitious people who could use a car or van to achieve their dreams of becoming Ireland’s next generation of leaders on the local, national and international stage.
These 20 rising stars were selected by Nissan after proving that they have what it takes.
They will now face a public vote and the six who attract the highest number of votes will be given a brand new, taxed and insured Nissan to drive for a year as Nissan Generation Next ambassadors.
A further four people will also be chosen by Nissan to join the innovative ambassador programme which attracted hundreds of applications from people from all walks of life, the length and breath of Ireland.
Members of the public can cast their vote for anyone of the 20 individuals who are in the running to become Nissan Generation Next ambassadors online at www.nissangenerationnext.ie anytime up to 6th July 2015.
The full list of Nissan Generation Next 2015 contenders is as follows:
Gareth Sheridan (25), Terenure, Dublin – Health Entrepreneur
Health entrepreneur Gareth is well on the road to international success and targeting turnover of €1 million in 2015. His company Nutriband produces transdermal patches that deliver nutrients and vitamins through the skin.
Ciara Judge (17), Emer Hickey (17) and Sophie Healy-Thow (17), Kinsale, Cork – Scientists
These three teenagers achieved international recognition after winning the 2013 BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition. Their research project discovered that the bacteria diazotroph can increase germination rates in cereal crops by 50% and crop yields by more than 70%. They have also been named by Time magazine as among the most influential teenagers in the world.
Rebecca Marsden (26), Clogherevagh, Sligo – Fashion Designer
Award winning fashion designer Rebecca has been named Irish Designer of the Year and also awarded the HOMI Design Makers Award in Milan for her accessories collection.
Niall McCormick (22), Castlebar, Mayo – Robotics Entrepreneur
Niall is positioning Colmac Robotics, the company he co-founded while studying for a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at NUI Galway, at the national and international forefront of robotics development and education.
Seamus Tighe (27) Castleknock, Dublin – Granola Cup Entrepreneur
Food entrepreneur Seamus founded Everest Granola Cups in July 2014 to revolutionise the “on the go” market and to establish Everest as a recognised Irish brand. He has already secured an agreement to supply 225 Supervalu stores by the end of 2015 and is targeting UK expansion in addition to creating 20 new jobs in Ireland.
Denis McCarthy (42) Cahir, Tipperary – Crisp Entrepreneur
Food entrepreneur Denis has developed a new low calorie potato crisp. It will be available in 900 Irish convenience stores and forecourt service stations from September.
Jonathan Mac Cann (22) Dun Laoghaire, Dublin – Director and Producer
Director and producer Jonathan has carved out a successful career making TV shows about the unsung heroes of Irish sport. His documentary ‘Wake to Wake’ was broadcast on Setanta Sports and provided a fascinating insight into the international rise of Irish wakeboarder David O’Caoimh.
Karen Leigh (44), Kildare, county Kildare – Social Entrepreneur
Award winning social entrepreneur Karen is the founder of Sensational Kids, a social enterprise whose aim is to help the 1 in 4 children in Ireland with special educational needs to reach their potential. Sensational Kids has helped over 3,000 children since 2009 and currently provides a range of intervention services to an average of 180 children every month.
Arthur Lanigan-O’Keeffe (23), Thomastown, Kilkenny – Pentathlete
Ireland’s number one Modern Pentathlete Arthur has one goal – to win a gold medal at the Rio Olympic Games. Arthur was just 20 years of age when he represented Ireland at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Paul O’Donovan (21), Skibbereen, Cork – Rower
Rower Paul and elder brother Gary are aiming to secure qualification for the Rio Olympic Games in the Lightweight Double Sculls. Paul started rowing at seven years of age and has been on every Irish team since he was 14 years old.
Jack Conan (22) Bray, Wicklow – Ruby Player
Jack is focused on making it to the top of world rugby. Jack was this year named as Leinster Young Player of the Year and he was one of two uncapped players included in the extended Ireland rugby squad for the 2015 Six Nations Championship.
Jenny Egan (28), Lucan, Dublin – Canoeist
Jennny established herself in the highly demanding and competitive sport of canoeing when she recently claimed Ireland’s first ever medal at the Senior European Canoe Sprint Championship with bronze in the K1 5,000 metres event.
Monika Dukarska (24) Killorglin, Kerry – Rower
Rower Monkia had no English when she moved with her family from Poznan to Kerry in 2006. Monika is now part of the Irish Senior Rowing team and is aiming to secure Olympic qualification with a finish in the top 11 at the World Rowing Championships in France this August.
Alan Cadogan, Monkstown, Cork – Dual GAA Star
Alan is a dual GAA star for Cork. A corner-back, he was named Man of the Match when he made his debut against Waterford in the 2014 All-Ireland Hurling Championships and was instrumental in Cork’s success in winning the Munster Hurling Championship.
Catherine McManus (23), Navan Road, Dublin – 100 Metres Sprinter
Multi-talented Catherine’s ambition is to secure qualification for the Rio Olympic Games as part of the Irish women’s 4×100 metres relay team. Catherine is balancing training with completing a Masters and recently received the Marketing Society of Ireland’s LePere award in recognition of Academic Excellence in Marketing having graduated from DCU first in her class with first class honours.
Mairead Healy (31), Sandymount, Dublin – Social Entrepreneur
Award winning social entrepreneur Mairead founded Future Voices in 2012 with a focus on empowering young people from marginalised backgrounds to have a voice to transform their lives, through intensive and innovative interventions over a three year period.
Paul Campbell (29), Whitehall, Dublin – Business Entrepreneur
Business entrepreneur Paul combined his love of photography and experience as a pilot to create the company Aerpas Limited which is set to pioneer the way in which drones are used in Ireland for media reporting, site surveys, property sales, checking livestock and weddings.
They’re all the contenders. You can cast your vote here.
